5 comments about Investing in Real Estate With Lease Options and "Subject-To" Deals : Powerful Strategies for Getting More When You Sell, and Paying Less When You Buy.

1. This book is very well written. Excellent. Three months after reading her "Lease Option/Subject To" book I was able to do a lease option deal with a motivated seller. Now that I am ready to exercise my option, I was having problems finding a mortgage broker that can refinance a lease option deal. I emailed Wendy Patton and she responded in less than 24 hours with 5 mortgage brokers that can do the refinance. Bottom line, this is a Great Book! and a Great Author!



2. Fight The Good Fight I've been to a Wendy Patton seminar. She is a great teacher. Her material on lease options and subject to's are excellent resources. With her it's not all about selling you a $5,000 course. She actually provides valuabe information for the price of the book. I can't say the same about some of the other real estate guru's.



3. After investing in real estate for the last 8 years using lease options and subject to deals, i was pleasantly surprised by this book. Wendy Patton packs this book full of great ideas and techniques for both the beginner as well as the advanced investor. Anyone wanting to buy real estate with little or no money down, must read this book. Byron Walker UltimateResultsNow.com



4. I really found a great deal of useful information in this book familiarizing and guiding the reader through the lease option concept. I was willing to give this book 5 stars if it wasn't for the poor writting style in the first few chapters and simplistic cost/profit worksheets. Overall lease option is well introduced but when it comes to list costs associated with acquiring a lease option property until selling it to a new owner there is no emphasis on major costs like transfer tax and title fees, etc. In other words if you do not do your own research and just thrust the worksheets in Wendy's book you might evaluate an investment as highly profitable while it is not much profit potential after associated transaction costs. However to be fair Wendy mentions a few times that a novice investor should not jump into any deal before consulting with a local real estate attorney.



5. This book is not for the regular guy on the street. If you are a Real Estate Speculator or want to be one then you need this book. If you love those late night Infomercials then this book is for you. If you've seen those pirate signs on poles that says "We buy homes" and wondering what that's all about then read this book.
   Investment by most definitions is a long term commitment, these are short term risky strategies, Which usually is termed Speculation. Note that most of the people giving this book a five star are Real Estate Speculators.
   
   The basic strategy layed out in this book is to: Step 1. Find desparate, not so smart, home owners that are willing to give you money (huh?) for an option to buy their property at BELOW market price. Step 2. At the same time find desparate, not so smart, buyers that are willing to give you money to buy a property at ABOVE market price, huh??
   The Subject To strategy also skirts the gray line between legal and illegal, there are disclaimers throughout the book. Its like buying a book on "How to get rich," and finding the statement "You can get rich by selling drugs, but selling drugs maybe illigal, consult an attorney"
   
   If anyone can make this work then good for them. If the sellers and buyers were smart enough they wouldn't need you, they'd find each other. But for those that aren't smart then good for them. A Win-Win situation.
   
   If you are thinking of actually investing in real estate for long term or leasing commercial property with option to purchase (as I am) then there are some good information in this book, to be taken with a grain of salt. And always consult an attorney.

5 comments about Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur: What It Takes to Win in High-Stakes Commercial Real Estate.

1. This is the best commercial real estate primer I have ever read. I run a commercial real estate brokerage and this is required reading for all of my agents. I highly recommend it.



2. If you are looking for a step by step buy a house, rehab it, and get rich, please find another book. If you are looking for a dull textbook type presentation you should also pass.
   
   If you are looking for clear explanations of concepts and illustrated with some small case studies to kick start your brain, then this might be just the thing to get you from dreaming to doing.
   
   Although I knew almost all the concepts presented, this book made them much more concrete. I have already begun the process of actually doing instead of sitting on my butt thinking about doing!
   
   Thank You!!



3. Finally a book for someone in the NE to read and understand NE real estate numbers, both insightful and inspirational.



4. This book is absolutely excellent. Jim's writing is straightforward and easy to understand even when he is discussing fairly complex ideas. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in any aspect of commercial Real Estate!



5. Jim Randel shares his 30+ years of real estate experience in this outstanding book. You might not know that he leased Bed, Bath and Beyond space in one of his buildings and they tried to hire him to expand nationwide. He turned down the job. Also, he leased Martha Stewart her first store in the 1980s in Westport, CT. He has closed more than 5,000 transactions as an attorney and is one of the brightest real estate investors in the country. His self-deprecating writing style is refreshing. He once made almost $1,000,000 for an hour long meeting that resulted in a 50/50 split of a brokerage commission. You'll learn more about these stories and much more in "Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur".
   
   You simply must buy this book!

5 comments about Buffettology: The Previously Unexplained Techniques That Have Made Warren Buffett The Worlds.

1. Let me start off by saying that I agree with those who note that this books marketing strategy- relying heavily on the "Mary Buffett" name- is most certainlly a bit misleading. Pretty safe to say that Mary Buffett isn't much of an expert on her former father-in-law and if one were to completely remove her name from this book, it quite likely wouldn't sell as many copies as it has. I assumed this from the outset and after completing the book, I soon realized that my assumptions were correct. I seriously doubt that Mary Buffett wrote a single word of this book and even if she had, I think her last name overvalues her actual understanding of what WB is all about.
   
   With that said, objectively considering "Buffettology" as being nothing more than a book that proffers a simplified value investing strategy similar to the one practiced by WB's (in a broad sort of way) this book is surprisingly good indeed. Buffettology outlines a (very) basic framework for Buffetts philosophy of investing, which is an interesting amalgam of Ben Graham (pure value), Phil Fischer (pure upside considerations) and uniquely Warren Buffett (the ability to pick the winners at the right times). It also provides just enough technical information- particularly on calculations- to be extremely useful to the beginner or the layperson.
   
   All in all, I would highly, highly recommend this book to beginners who are still developing their sea-legs in the investing world and are trying to figure out exactly what kind of investor they really are. Also, for advanced investors who themselves are more the market-timer types but find themselves interested in gaining a very basic comprehension of what value investing is all about, this book would be a superb starting point.
   
   I think Buffettology occupies a pretty good place in the realm of beginners investing literature. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to most anyone.



2. BOTTOM LINE:
   
   INVESTMENTS - It's all about the basics!
   This is my personal investment bible. First read it back in 1999; still refer back to it when pondering my next investment move. Mary goes DEEP into the mind of Warren and shares all of his secrets. She even bothers doing the math for us. I have found that the worksheets still 'work', even with today's constantly-changing internet market.
   A+



3. Many books have been written about Warren Buffet's way of picking the right stocks at the right time, but this one is the most sound, concise and actionable. There is another book similar to this one: "The Warren Buffet Way" by Robert G. Hagstrom, but it misses the important topics laid out in the "Buffetology". These major topics are: what are the differences between a "consumer monopoly" and a "commodity"; how to calculate the rate of return over a long period of time before choosing the investment; and so on. There is another great book about Warren Buffet and his investment strategy - "Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist" by Roger Lowenstein, but it better describes Mr. Buffet's biography and his relations with family, friends and the society, rather than how did he evaluate the companies. But please note that "Buffetology" is not a replacement of the book by Roger Lowenstein, I highly recommend reading both of them. What is you can omit is the book by Robert G. Hagstrom, above mentioned.
   
   I would recommend an abridged audio version of the "Buffetology" instead of the printed book. The audio version discloses the most important factors of Mr. Buffet's investment principles pretty well. Some of the background information is available on free letters to shareholders and Mr. Buffet's lectures, but you might not want to crawl thought all these; you might want to save time and just listen the "Buffetology" audio or read the "Buffetology" book, where all this information is perfectly summarized and laid out in a consistent way.



4. Many books have been written about Warren Buffet's way of picking the right stocks at the right time, but this one is the most sound, concise and actionable. There is another book similar to this one: "The Warren Buffet Way" by Robert G. Hagstrom, but it misses the important topics laid out in the "Buffettology". These major topics are: what are the differences between a "consumer monopoly" and a "commodity"; how to calculate the rate of return over a long period of time before choosing the investment; and so on. There is another great book about Warren Buffet and his investment strategy - "Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist" by Roger Lowenstein, but it better describes Mr. Buffet's biography and his relations with family, friends and the society, rather than how did he evaluate the companies. But please note that "Buffettology" is not a replacement of the book by Roger Lowenstein, I highly recommend reading both of them. What is you can omit is the book by Robert G. Hagstrom, above mentioned.
   
   I would recommend an abridged audio version of the "Buffettology" instead of the printed hardcover. The audio version discloses the most important factors of Mr. Buffet's investment principles pretty well. Some of the background information is available on free letters to shareholders and Mr. Buffet's lectures, but you might not want to crawl thought all these; you might want to save time and just listen the "Buffettology" audio or read the "Buffettology" book, where all this information is perfectly summarized and laid out in a consistent way.



5. This book was very good - especially the first half, before it gets heavily into the math equations. It was right about at my limits of understanding, (as a math-minded, but a relatively inexperienced investor) and I appreciated the numerous examples. The author had a rough task in making the book readable for folks like me as well as MBAs and more experienced investors. I thought she did a decent job, but did leave off some definitions of terms from balance sheets and cash flow statements.
   
   I found a math error in the first part of the math section, and gave up from there, but the earlier parts of the book still made it very much a worthwhile read.

5 comments about Ready...Set...Retire!: Financial Strategies for the Rest of Your Life.

1. It was 5 star item for me as I have saved and have < 10 years to retirement. It is easy to read and understand. It is a practical and conservative plan for a secure finacial retirement. You will want other books to cover other aspects of retirement but for a investment plan it is the best I have read.



2. Ray pretty much has a one size fits all philosophy. He is simply trying to get his name out there to promote his firm, which is not always known for doing what is best. He hosts a Radio show as well. If you are going to trust a radio guy, then make it Moe Ansari of Marketwrap.



3. Well written. In-depth analysis of bucket two strategies including annuities and complex trust/insurance alternatives. Recommend reading "Buckets of Money"- author's first book- prior to reading this book.



4. This is the follow up to buckets of money. I learned a lot and enjoyed the approach. Some sections will be difficult for new investors to understand.....but stick with it, very good info and it is now one of my new reference books to review and share with others. Thanks Ray



5. Great logic to avoid running out of money. He has a great radio show too - that is how I found out about his book. Financil planning has been my passion for the last 40 years - and his plan will work.

5 comments about When the Rivers Run Dry: Water--The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-first Century.

1. He makes his point over and over and over again. I had to read this for a class, and the running joke we had was that he could have got his point across in 75 pages and saved alot of water from not having to print as many pages.
   
   Overall, this is a really good book, its nearly impossible to counter his argument due to the enormous amounts of facts he has from traveling the globe.



2. By now, many people have heard of the Aral Sea drying up or the Colorado River not making it to the ocean. However, this book is a good overview of many other issues people may not have heard about. The author seems to suggest that there could be enough water to go around, but that in order to make sure, we would have to change the way we go about doing a lot of things. The scariest part of the book is that large sections of highly populated countries may be living an unsustainable lifestyle with respect to water. What happens when the wells go dry? Whenever I read books about water, global warming, or oil supply, it makes me think that perhaps these are life and death issues that are put on the back burner by modern society. In any case, while this book may leave you wanting a little more, it'a very readable and informative.



3. Interesting book but it ignores the biggest factor in a functional water cycle: the condition of the soil surface. Plant and litter cover on the soil surface increases infiltration, slows runoff, and slows evaporation. The biggest issue with the water cycle around the world is bare ground. From reading this book, you would only realize that this is a problem in cities, with their impervious pavements.



4. I liked this book because Fred Pearce used different parts of the world for his research. It relates not only human behavior and how we use water, but also talks extensively about "virtual water", the water in all the things we buy, we eat, we use.
   
   The examples are riveting and frightening, he uses stories of the past and how they are causing the same problems in the present because of human behavior and our careless water management.
   
   Read it and understand your role in a catastrophe that we could avoid if we put our mind to it. With population growth and our current water consumption we won't be able to make it. Fred points it clearly.
   
   A must read.



5. Journalist Fred Pearce's "When the River Runs Dry" (2006 324-page paperback) is a puzzling presentation. On the one hand it presents the contemporary predicament of worldwide water shortages emerging from prior centuries. Certainly, this shortage is a central issue for survival of Earth's varied populations. On the other hand, the book proffers impossible solutions for humanity's "hydraulic civilization".
   
   Touring each of the world's principal rivers, wetlands, lakes, and aquifer zones Pearce seeks opinions from experts, victims, scientists, clergy, activists, business people, and politicians. (Unfortunately, there are not footnotes in this book, and thus no opportunity for follow up reading.) His travels in themselves proffer an interesting narrative. From these field trips Pearce presents a wide range of views and suggestions for solving the world's complex water problems. By the end of each of the 10 chapters, the author is proposing his own solutions.
   
   Pearce's solutions change this text's intent and purpose. He moves from journalist reporting the issue to activist claiming solitary resolution for each water problem. His activism leaves scientific and academic resolutions behind on the dusty dry riverbank.
   
   The author's answers for saving the world from the emerging water problems range from the technically impossible (i.e. taking the gigantic dams out of river valleys and redirecting rivers) to the simply odd (i.e. giving the wetlands to prehistoric native populations). Dam destruction would, seemingly, only invent more environmental destruction while returning water sources already harnessed would deprive those dependent on them including their earliest users. His solutions are too often simplistic and baffling.
   
   Obviously, there are answers for the continuing shortages of water across the globe. Pearce's book is best viewed as a warning message and not a resolution advocate. His water warnings, but not his solutions, should be taken seriously.
   
   This book is recommended to everyone concerned about 21st century water shortages and to all who want to develop answers for the global questions it proposes.
   
   Happy Halloween!

1 comments about Paying for College without Going Broke, 2009 Edition (College Admissions Guides).

1. I did not use this product,but sent it to my son who has a college bound daughter. He thought it quite useful.

2 comments about Annuities For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)).

1. Annuities For Dummies by Kerry Pechter is a very readable guide to annuities that makes sense of a very complicated insurance product (and what insurance products are NOT complicated?) Pechter guides the reader through a brief history of annuities to a broad view of how they work, and on to specific facts about the various kinds of annuities available. The only slight criticism is that his presentation is a bit overly favorable toward annuities, bolstered by selective statistical examples, like the one on p. 21. Hypothetical retiree "Smith" was over-invested in bonds and cash, which do not provide protection against inflation. That is partly why hypothetical retiree "Jones" with his annuity and stocks did better. Was it the annuity or the stocks that made the difference? The logic behind the example is undoubtedly that without an annuity, Smith would want very secure investments, hence, bonds and cash. All in all, the book will help any reader make better choices regarding annuities. And it's a fun read!



2. This book is a no nonsense break through on understanding the mind boggling world of annuities of all kinds. The book is timely since this topic is now going to be of high interest given aging baby boomers. The book is well organized and an easy read. There is an unfortunate typo problem on the critical titling rules chart that left me searching elsewhere for the necessary answers. I recommend this chart be fixed before the book is republished.

5 comments about The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources.

1. A whole new way to look not just at money, but at life itself! Worth reading over and over again!



2. We as consumers are brainwashed into thinking we need more to be of value. This book brought to light the many ways we devalue ourselves and our gifts. I appreciate that Ms. Twist has given the tools to reformat our thoughts on this critical subject. Willetta S BaCote



3. Lynne....please make this an unabridged book on tape/CD! Not only could my blind boyfriend then readily access it, but I could listen to it in my car.



4. Lynne Twist challenges us to think about our culture of scarcity and "more is better" and the impact that has on our lives and our environment. She challenges us to evaluate the self-imposed value we place on money, the impact on our happiness and the power in using money in an intentional way to align with our values and life purpose. This book can be transformative if the reader approaches reading it with that possibility in mind. Highly recommended!



5. Are you in a life long struggle between money and the calling of your soul? Is money at odds with your most deeply held values, commitments, and ideals? Do you have an inner hunger to be authentic, to have a life of meaning, a life in which you can make a difference? If yes, then Lynne Twist's "The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of Our Inner Resources" was written for you. As Deepak Chopra notes, "To anyone who wants to transform their lives and the world, I give this book my highest recommendation."
   
   Author Twist has found that there are striking commonalities across cultures in our basic human relationship with money and the way that relationship governs, dominates, and stresses our lives. In each culture, Twist has seen the powerful grip that money has on our lives, the wounds and hardship that it can impose, and the immense healing power of even the smallest amount of money when we use it to express our humanity - our highest ideals and our most soulful commitments and values.
   
   "The Soul of Money" offers a way to "realign our relationship with money to be more truthful, free, and potent, enabling us to live a life of integrity and full self-expression consistent with our deepest core values, no matter what our financial circumstances. The book is not about turning away from money or simplifying expenditures, or doing budgets or financial planning, although the wisdom gained will be relevant to all those activities. This book is about living consciously, fully, and joyfully in our relationship with money, and learning to understand and embrace its flow. It is about using the unexamined portal of our relationship with money to deliver a widespread transformation in all aspects of our lives."

5 comments about Incorporate & Grow Rich!.

1. This book was recommended to me by my C.P.A. For those who are new to the corporation game, this is a great book! Inc. & Grow Rich! will open your eyes to the full potential of being incorporated. The more seasoned business owner will still find interesting tidbits in this book.



2. This book is very informative. The book is written so that anyone that reads it can understand it. Anything you've ever wanted to know about taxes to get better returns this is a must read. I like the way the book is broken down into categories. If you're looking for something in particular, it's not hard to find. Anyone who has their own business should definitely read this book and also keep it as reference at all times. This book has so much useful information in it, one would be amazed. This helped me to be able to cut my tax expenses by a lot. I highly recommend this book to anyone with their own business or those who plan to start their own business.



3. This book helped me to restructure my business for the next year. My accountant was amazed by the ideas I presented during our last meeting. This book gave excellant illustrations showing the financial statements of businesses before and after they restructured using the methods in the book. I recommend it for anyone in business (or thinking of one day going into business).



4. If you are just starting a business, this is a great read BEFORE you get started. Lots of info on which "status" is best for your company - LLC, S Corp, etc.



5. Just a quick note on this. I was not impressed with this book at all. It is vague, overly high-level, and after reading it I do not feel confident that I could follow-through in incorporating and taking advantage of the operating and tax benefits provided. It felt more like I was reading a collection of random thoughts on the topic, rather than an in-depth explanation. I was also turned-off by the quality of the book itself. The pages were not clear; more like two sided photo-copies than a published work.

5 comments about Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes And How To Correct Them: Lessons From The New Science Of Behavioral Economics.

1. For more than 20 years I have been fascinated why so many people make financial decisions which defy rationality. Unfortunately, I find it extremely difficult to read and comprehend most of the research papers that has been done in the field of behavioral finance. The last 5 years have seen several good books explaining the results of the emerging field of behavioral finance. This book is one of those good books.
   
   As a fan of index funds, I enjoyed reading this book's explanation and recommendation for suggesting index funds.
   
   This book is very readable and is an excellent primer on the major concepts which are emerging from behavioral finance research.
   
   Socrates was right when he uttered his famous quote "Know Thy Self". One of the hardest things to do is to understand why we do what we do sometimes. This book helps explain some of this natural human behavior, and how we can manage it to make more rational financial decisions.
   
   I would suggest companion books to supplement this book including:
   
   Index Mutual Funds: How to Simplify Your Financial Life and Beat the Pro's
   How to Use Psychology to Achieve Your Financial Goals
   Are You Using the Right Rules to Plan Your Retirement?
   The Richest Man in Babylon
   Bogle on Mutual Funds: New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor
   The Millionaire Next Door
   The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio
   A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition
   The Coffeehouse Investor: How to Build Wealth, Ignore Wall Street, and Get On With Your Life
   The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing



2. This book is well worth reading. Even though I am sixty-nine years old with an extensive background in finance, I still found the contents of this book very interesting. Much of what is written I already know and have practiced for many years, which has lead me to accumulate a fair amount of wealth to live a comfortable life in retirement.
   
   What I have learned from Messrs. Belsky and Gilovich is an ability to teach my grandchildren (and children, if they will listen) some financial fundamentals which will also allow them to accumulate wealth. My oldest granddaughter who is 23 is well on her way, not only saving in a Roth IRA and 401(k) plan, but also understanding some basic principals, such as saving small amounts and the power of compounding.
   
   I recommend this book to everyone who wants to begin to make smart money decisions and get financially ahead. As Ben Stein says, wealth accumulation is freedom. Freedom from worry and freedom to buy the things you need to enjoy living a comfortable life. If you accept the economic principals presented in this book you will achieve financial freedom.



3. This book will show you how and why people lose or waste money. From ego, to overconfidence, to anchoring, to mental accounting. All of these areas of psychology affect our way of thinking about money. This easy reading book will open your eyes as to how to save more money. You may even laugh at yourself knowing you have fallen for some of these mental traps. Highly recommended.



4. * When you know the common mistakes people make, you will learn from them and will not do the same.
   * Not only you will learn the common mistakes, but this book describe clearly on how to correct the situation in details.
   * Indeed a fresh knowledge for me. I love this book.



5. This is a very informative book that investigates why we think the way we do about money and what mental games we play that can get us into so much trouble. The book is not a fun or easy book to read, but it does have very good information.